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Business
& Labor
Former Ironworkers President Jake West Arrested, Indicted
(enr.com-
8/31/01)
By Tom Ichniowski
Jake West, the former president of the ironworkers'
union, was arrested on Aug. 28 and charged the following day in
federal court with embezzling more than $50,000 in union money to
pay for vacations and other personal expenses, a union spokesman
says. West was arrested while having dinner in a Washington, D.C.,
restaurant.
The 49-count indictment in federal court in
Washington alleges that West used union funds for such things as
dinner parties, vacations and golf outings. The indictment stems
from a federal investigation of the union's finances that began
in 1998. Earlier, four other ironworkers' officials pleaded guilty
to similar charges and agreed to cooperate in the ongoing probe.
West has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
His attorney did not return a phone call seeking comment on the
indictment.
In February West resigned the top union post
he had held for 12 years. Until his resignation, West had planned
to run for re-election this year. At the time West stepped down,
his attorney denied that his departure was related to the investigation.
Union sources said, however, that they had told West he would not
win another bid for office.
Earlier this month, Joe Hunt, the union's
general treasurer, succeeded West as the ironworkers' president.
Hunt was elected to a full five-year term.
In a statement, Hunt said, "Government
investigators will tell you that the current leadership of the Iron
Workers [has] taken positive action to restore integrity to our
union. We have cooperated fully with their investigations. We have
laid to rest any concerns the federal government had about today's
Iron Workers union."
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